Configuring user customizable operational features of a vehicle

• US 9,248,794 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Chang, Sherry S., Martin, Jason, Bhargav-Spantzel, Abhilasha, Khosravi, Hormuzd M., Owen, Craig T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): KERRIGAN, MICHAEL V
• Application Number:
  US14/128,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L

Abstract

Embodiments of apparatus and methods for configuring user customizable operational features of a vehicle are described. In embodiments, an apparatus may include a communication module configured to be disposed in the vehicle, and communicate with a mobile device a user. The apparatus may further include a controller configured to be disposed in the vehicle and coupled with the communication module, to obtain from the mobile device, one or more preferences of the user for one or more user customizable features of the vehicle, and adjust the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle based at least in part on the one or more preferences of the user obtained. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication module to be disposed in a vehicle, and communicate with a mobile device of a user;

a controller to be disposed in the vehicle and coupled with the communication module, to adjust one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle based at least in part on one or more preferences of the user wherein at least some of the one or more preferences are to be received from the user; and

an intelligent virtual assistant (IVS) coupled to the controller to facilitate the user in providing the at least some of the one or more preferences;

wherein the controller is to further download one or more features of another IVS on the mobile device, and conform the IVS on the vehicle to the other IVS on the mobile device based at least in part on the downloaded one or more features of the other IVS on the mobile device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

one or more sensors coupled with the controller, and to enable the controller to detect a location of the user in the vehicle, wherein the controller is further able to adjust the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle based additionally on the location of the user in the vehicle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the one or more sensors include an image sensor, and the controller is to retrieve an image from the mobile device for facial recognition.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input module coupled with the controller, and to facilitate the user to provide to the controller, a location of the user in the vehicle.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is to further obtain at least some of the one or more preferences of the user from the mobile device, that are stored in the mobile device or in a remote device accessible to the mobile device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication module is to communicate with the mobile device in accordance with a selected one of a frequency hopping, near field, or hypertext transfer communication protocol.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication module and the controller are complementarily configured to obtain the one or more preferences of the user from the mobile device, through a Bluetooth profile of the user having the one or more preferences of the user for the user customizable operational features of the vehicle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more preferences of the user comprise one or more preferences for steering wheel position, head restraint position, light settings, seat settings, mirror settings, seat belt settings, air bag settings, transmission settings, mode of operation, window settings, interior climate settings, or infotainment settings.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more preferences of the user comprise one or more preferences for one or more settings for one or more mechanical or electronic components or systems of the vehicle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more preferences of the user are updatable based at least in part on a recommendation from a social network.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a rental vehicle, and the user is a renter of the vehicle, and wherein the communication module is to detect presence of the mobile device, and on detection, establish a communication connection with the mobile device.

12. At least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions to cause an apparatus of a vehicle, in response to execution of the instructions by a controller of the apparatus, to:

connect with a mobile device of a user,

receive from the mobile device, one or more features of an intelligent virtual assistant (IVS) on the mobile device;

conform another IVS of the apparatus to the IVS of the mobile device based at least in part on the downloaded one or more features of the IVS on the mobile device;

receive from the user, via the conformed IVS of the apparatus, one or more preferences of the user for one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle; and

configure the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle, by the controller, according to the one or more preferences received.

13. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to associate the user with a location in the vehicle, and further configure the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle based at least in part on the location of the user in the vehicle.

14. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to negotiate with the mobile device, a protocol to communicate the one or more preferences of the user from the mobile device to the controller.

15. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to request the mobile device to retrieve additional one or more preferences of the user stored in the mobile device or a remote device, and forward to the apparatus.

16. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to receive, from the mobile device, a Bluetooth profile of the user, having the one or more preferences of the user for the one or more customizable operational features of the vehicle.

17. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive from the user, a request to change a setting for one of the one or more user customizable features of the vehicle;

adjust the setting for the one user customable feature of the vehicle; and

export to the mobile device, the adjusted setting for the one user customizable operational feature of the vehicle.

18. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the mobile device is a first mobile device, the user is a first user, and the one or more preferences are first one or more preferences, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

connect with a second mobile device of a second user,

receive from the second mobile device, one or more features of an intelligent virtual assistant (IVS) on the second mobile device;

conform the IVS of the apparatus to the IVS of the second mobile device based at least in part on the downloaded one or more features of the IVS on the second mobile device;

receive from the user, via the re-conformed IVS of the apparatus, second one or more preferences of the second user for the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle; and

reconcile the first and second one or more preferences for the user customizable operational features of the vehicle;

wherein configure comprises configure the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle, according to a result of the reconciliation of the first and second one or more preferences.

19. A method, comprising:

establishing by an apparatus installed in a vehicle, a communication connection with a proximally located mobile device of a user;

receiving, by the apparatus, from the mobile device, one or more features of an intelligent virtual assistant (IVS) on the mobile device;

conforming the IVS of the apparatus to the IVS of the mobile device based at least in part on the downloaded one or more features of the IVS on the mobile device;

receiving from the user, via the conformed IVS of the apparatus, one or more preferences of the user for one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle; and

configuring, by the apparatus, the one or more user customizable operational features of the vehicle, by the apparatus, according to the one or more preferences received.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising associating the user, by the apparatus, with a location in the vehicle, wherein configuring is further based at least in part on the location of the user in the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising negotiating with the mobile device, by the apparatus, a protocol to communicate the one or more preferences of the user from the mobile device to the apparatus.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising requesting the mobile device, by the apparatus, to retrieve additional one or more preferences of the user stored in the mobile device or a remote device, and forward to the apparatus.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, by the apparatus, from the user, a request to change a setting for one of the one or more user customizable features of the vehicle;

adjusting, by the apparatus, the setting for the one user customable feature of the vehicle; and

exporting, by the apparatus, to the mobile device, the adjusted setting for the one user customizable operational feature of the vehicle.